Begonia plant named ‘Maui Mist’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Rex Begonia plant named ‘Maui Mist’, characterized by its uniform growth habit; moderate plant vigor; no requirement for winter dormancy; and interesting and attractive leaf coloration and pattern.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia rex hybrid, commercially known as Rex Begonia, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Maui Mist’.

The new Rex Begonia was discovered and selected by the Inventor in a controlled environment in Vista, Calif., in 1995, within a large group of seedling progeny from multiple crossings of unidentified selections of Begonia rex hybrids.

The selection of this plant was based on its uniform growth habit, moderate plant vigor, and attractive foliage coloration and pattern.

Asexual reproduction of the new Rex Begonia by leaf cuttings taken in a controlled environment in Vista, Calif., has shown that the unique features of this new Rex Begonia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Maui Mist’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Maui Mist’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Maui Mist’ as a new and distinct Rex Begonia:

1. Uniform growth habit.

2. Moderate plant vigor.

3. Does not require winter dormancy.

4. Interesting and attractive leaf coloration and pattern.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Vista, Calif., plants of the new Rex Begonia differ from plants of the nonpatented cultivar ‘Merry Christmas Corkscrew’ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Rex Begonia grow more rapidly than plants of the cultivar ‘Merry Christmas Corkscrew’.

2. Plants of the new Rex Begonia are more compact and denser than plants of the cultivar ‘Merry Christmas Corkscrew’.

3. Leaves of plants of the new Rex Begonia and the cultivar ‘Merry Christmas Corkscrew’ differ in coloration and pattern.

4. Leaves of plants of the new Rex Begonia do not have a “corkscrew” formation whereas leaves of plants of the cultivar ‘Merry Christmas Corkscrew’ have a “corkscrew” formation.

5. Plants of the new Rex Begonia do not require a winter dormancy period whereas plants of the cultivar ‘Merry Christmas Corkscrew’ do require a winter dormancy period.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Vista, Calif., plants of the new Rex Begonia differ from plants of the nonpatented cultivar ‘Lillium’ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Rex Begonia are more compact than plants of the cultivar ‘Lillium’.

2. Plants of the new Rex Begonia have flatter leaves than plants of the cultivar ‘Lillium’.

3. Leaves of plants of the new Rex Begonia and the cultivar ‘Lillium’ differ in coloration and pattern.

4. Plants of the new Rex Begonia do not require a winter dormancy period whereas plants of the cultivar ‘Lillium’ do require a winter dormancy period.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Rex Begonia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photograph comprises a top perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Maui Mist’. Foliage colors in the photograph may differ from the actual colors due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the Spring in Vista, Calif., under conditions which approximate commercial practice. Plants used for this description were grown in 15-cm containers for about 3 months.

Botanical classification: Begonia rex hybrid cultivar ‘Maui Mist’.

Commercial classification: Rex Begonia.

Parentage: Chance seedling of multiple crossings of unidentified selections of Begonia rex hybrids.

Propagation:

Type.—Leaf cuttings.

Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 56 days at 21° C.

Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 56 days at 21° C.

Time to develop roots, summer.—About 84 days at 21° C.

Time to develop roots, winter.—About 98 days at 21° C.

Rooting habit.—Fine, fibrous and well-branched.

Plant description:

Plant form.—Rosette; compact; dense and outwardly arching potted plant; freely basal branching with good leaf petiole strength.

Vigor.—Moderate.

Plant height, soil surface to top of leaf canopy.—About 28.5 cm.

Plant width.—About 64 cm.

Leaves.—Arrangement: Simple. Length: Petiole to apex: About 13 cm. Base to apex: About 17 cm. Width: About 13 cm. Shape: Oblique, ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Asymmetrically cordate. Margin: Pectinate; irregularly undulate. Texture: Leathery, rugose; pubescence on lower surface veins. Color: Young foliage, upper surface: Margin: 200A. Central venal areas: 200A. Blade: Glossy, 158C flushed with 158D. Antemarginal: Border of 147A with numerous spots and splotches of 138C. Young foliage, lower surface: Margin: 187A. Central venal areas: 183B extending along and between veins. Background: 139D. Mature, fully expanded, foliage, upper surface: Margin: Dark brown, 200A, speckled with 185C. Central venal areas: 200A. Blade: Metallic 185A, fading to 185C. Outer perimeter of these blotches, 138C. Antemarginal: Dark green border, 147A, with numerous metallic spots, 185A to 138C. Veins: 178B. Mature, fully expanded, foliage, lower surface: Margin: 187A. Blade: 183A. Background: Hint of 139D. Veins: 183A; reticulate.

Petioles.—Length: About 19 cm. Diameter: About 6.5 mm. Shape: Longitudinally grooved. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 174A to 178B.

Stipules.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter at base: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Subulate, deltoid. Color: Translucent, 179A.

Flower description:

Flowering habit.—Male flowers, single with one whorl of four tepals. Female flowers, semi-double with three tepals interior to outer whorl of five tepals. Usually about three flowers per cyme. Flowers persistent.

Natural flowering season.—Plants will flower continuously, but typically plants flower more abundantly during the spring and summer.

Flowers.—Shape: Rounded; somewhat cup-shaped. Diameter: About 3.1 cm. Depth (height): About 2.3 cm. Aspect: Drooping about 45° from vertical. Fragrance: None.

Flower buds.—Shape: Spherical; bulbous with marginal lip. Length: About 11.5 mm. Diameter: About 8.5 mm. Color: 52D with venal pattern of 52C.

Tepals.—Arrangement: Rosette. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 1.25 cm. Shape: Ovate with obtuse apex. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth, waxy; slightly velvety. Color: When opening, upper surface: 55C. When opening, lower surface: 55C striped with 55A. Fully opened, upper surface: 55B. Fully opened, lower surface: 55A.

Peduncles.—Angle: About 20° from vertical. Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Firm. Texture: Smooth, waxy. Color: 144B.

Pedicels.—Angle: About 35° from vertical. Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Moderate, flexible. Texture: Smooth, waxy. Color: 47A.

Reproductive organs.—Male flowers: Stamen quantity: About 120, globose mass. Anther shape: Rhomboidal, lower sides curved inwardly. Anther length: About 2.25 mm. Filament length: About 2.1 mm. Anther color: Close to 15B. Pollen: Not observed. Female flowers: Pistil length: About 2 cm. Stigma shape: Funnel; bilobate. Stigma color: 153C. Ovary: Inferior; three-winged; one large top wing and two lower wings; both surfaces, close to 50A to 50C.

Disease resistance: Resistance to diseases common to Rex Begonia has not been determined.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Rex Begonia plant named ‘Maui Mist’, as illustrated and described. 